Gun drawing contest apparatus



Nov. 7, 1961 J. w. CAMPBELL GUN DRAWING CONTEST APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1959 INVENTOR James W. Campbell ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1961 J. w. CAMPBELL GUN DRAWING CONTEST APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1959 3 FIRMWW m INVENTOR James W. Campbell A ORNEY FIG.9.

Nov. 7, 1961 J. w. CAMPBELL ,0 0

A GUN DRAWING CONTEST APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGJI.

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ZNVENTOR. James W. Campbell BYfj/MW A TTORNE Y 3,007,700 GUN DRAWING CUNTEST APPARATUS James W. Campbell, Rockville Centre, N.Y., assignor to The Cayton Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 860,140 13 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates to gun drawing contest apparatus.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide gun drawing apparatus in which a realistic testing of ones skill and reflexes in gun drawing are sharpened and tested by actual contest with an opponent.

It is another object of the invention to provide a gun drawing toy which requires the children to stand apart and out of range of physical contact with one another but paired upon being played, and yet has a harmless device than can hit the loser for giving true indication instantly of the winner and loser of the dueling match.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a gun drawing toy in which a striking light weight ball is used to hit the opposer, the ball being provided on a stretched elastic extending from each side thereof and the ends releasably attached to the gun holsters or guns so that one end will be triggered by the first gun to clear the holster thereby allowing the ball to be pulled toward the opposer by the elastic and remaining on the last gun.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a gun drawing apparatus, simple means for releasably attaching a stretched elastic bearing a striking member to the holster or gun, which can be easily, quickly and effecti ely set or attached thereto and similarly released.

Other objects of the invention are to provide toy gun apparatus, having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, inexpensive to manufacture, used with safety, yet in a realistic manner, of pleasing appearance, light in weight, enjoyable and wholesome to play, played indoors as well as outdoors, and effective in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of two contestants paired off from one another with the striking ball disposed between them on a stretched elastic and the players about to draw upon the call of a signal,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a holster and gun with a release device constructed according to one form of the invention and illustration being made as to the manner in which the gun is pulled from the holster and the fork-like retaining plate removed to release the elastic ball end and the position of the ball and elastic end enlargement just at the instant of their release,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clip with the fork-like retaining plate in place over the clip to hold the enlarged end of the elastic and illustration made as to the manner in which the retaining plate is pulled by the gun as it is drawn from the holster,

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the spring clip and retaining plate holding the enlarged end of the elastic and as viewed on line 44 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view 0 fthe elastic retaining device constructed to another form of the invention utilizing the spring clip but adapted for attachment to the belt of the participant,

FIG. 6 is a side e-levational view of a holster with a gun therein about to be drawn and having an elastic release device constructed according to still another form of the invention and in which the elastic is released by the flipping of a looped end of the elastic from the release device by the front sight of the gun.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a fragment of the holster with the release device shown in FIG. 6, illustrat- 3,h07,700 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 ing how the gun sight flips the release device and the elastic loop,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective View of the release device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 detached from the gun holster,

PEG. 9 is a perspective view of a release device constructed according to a further form of the invention utilizing a spring clip for retaining the enlarged end of the elastic and adapted for attachment to the belt of the participant,

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional View of the spring clip form of the invention shown in FIG. 9 and as viewed on line ill-10 thereof,

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a holster and gun therein having an elastic fastened to the nose end of the gun by a plug, the holster being broken away to show the nose end of the gun and the plug therein,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of the open upper end of the holster with the nose end of the gun elevated and illustrating the release of the elastic retaining plug when drawing the gun from the holster, and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the nose end of the gun broken away and with the plug for the elastic fitted therein, and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of the end of the gun in which the elastic loop is held upon the gun sight and is released as the gun is pulled from the holster.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, 20 represents a light weight ball, made of celluloid, pith or other similar material, a small flour bag, colored disks or a noise making member such as a balloon with means to puncture it, interposed midway on an elastic 21 having enlarged or knotted ends 22 that are adapted to be releasably secured to a release device 23 on a gun holster 24 carried in the usual manner on a belt 25 strapped about a player and adapted to be released by a gun 26 as it is pulled upwardly by the player. The first player to draw his gun causes the ball to be directed toward the other player.

The release device 23 comprises generally a U-shaped spring clip 27 attached by staples 28, 2.9 and a bent clip 30 to the front top upper edge of the holster 24, the clip 27 has opposing inwardly bent and rounded spring jaws 31 and 32 for receiving the enlarged end 22 of the elastic 21, With the enlarged end 22. of the elastic in place within the spring clip 27 the jaws are held together by a forkshaped bridging or retaining pull plate 33 to prevent the jaws from spreading and the rubber enlargement pulling outwardly therefrom when the players are paired off against one another as shown in FIG. 1 and the elastic 21 is stretched. Tension is put on the elastic as the two dueling contestants back away from each other and while awaiting the signal to make the draw.

This retaining pull plate 33 has ears 34 and 35 that depend downwardly along the respective opposite sides of the U-shaped spring clip 27 to hold the rounded jaws together against the elastic as best viewed in FIG. 4. This plate 33 has a lip 36 extending forwardly at right angles thereto and rests upon the upper edges of the spring clip jaws and provides a fulcrum on which the plate 33 can be pivoted to assist in the release of the plate 33 from the spring clip as the gun is pulled up and forward from the holster 24. The upper end of the plate 33 has a hole 37 by which a string 38 is tied to the plate. The other end of the string 38 is tied to the trigger guard 33 of the gun 26. When the gun is pulled the forked retaining plate 33 is yanked from the spring clip 27 so that the jaws 31 and 32 will be permitted to separate and release the enlarged end 22 of the elastic 21 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The ball 20 will move from the first to draw toward the one last to draw so as to eifect a hit upon him in a realistic and efiective manner. 'Ihere is no question of who the winner may be a a realistic hit is scored upon the loser. The string 38 moves forwardly as the gun is pulled and the plate 33 will be pivoted on the forward edge of its lip 37 and thereby to insure the easy release of the plate 33 and the elastic 21 from the holster.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, 40 represents a holster that is opened at the top and which carries a gun 41. On the forward edge of the holster 40 there is secured a release device 42 for an elastic loop 43 formed on the end of an elastic which will support the ball in the same manner as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The device 42 comprises a U-shaped anchor piece 44 having an enlarged rounded closed end 45 on which a flip piece 46 is hinged. The flip piece 46 has elongated slot 47 for receiving the closed end 45 of the piece 44. This anchor piece 44 has vertically-spaced holes 48 through which rivets 49 are extended to secure the piece 44 to the front of the holster 4t).

Folded rearwardly from the inner portion of the U- shaped anchor piece 44, are parallel guide portions 50 and 51 which serve to funnel a front gun sight 52 on the gun 41 as the gun is drawn out of the holster. The gun must be pulled straight upwardly so that the front sight 52 passes between and is directed by the guide portions 50 and 51 toward the flip piece 46 that rests on the upper edges of these portions. When the lip piece 46 is flipped up by the gun sight, the rubber loop 43 is lifted from the closed end 45 on the anchor piece 44. The contest is played in the same way as with the first prescribed form of the invention.

The two forms of the invention which have just been described are directed to the release device being provided on the holster 46. The forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 10 have the release device attached to the belt of the players. In the device shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, and 14, the release device is attached to the barrel of the gun. A description of these other forms of the invention will now be made.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a spring clip 60 having opposing spring jaws 61 and 62 adapted to grasp and retain the enlarged end 22 of the elastic 21, and a rear clip plate portion 63 adapted to he slid down over the upper edge of the belt 25 to retain the spring clip thereupon. A retaining pull plate 64 has projections 65 and 66 that extend down over the sides of the jaws 61 and 62 to prevent their expansion while retaining the enlarged end 22 of the elastic 21. The retaining plate is also provided With lever lip 67 extending forwardly from the front of the olate to close the top of the spring jaws 61 and 62 and to provide a fulcrum edge on which the retaining plate will be pivoted as it is worked off the spring clip on the pulling of the gun from the holster. A string 68 is connected through a hole in the upper end of the pull plate 64 and will be connected to the trigger guard of the gun in the same manner as the string 38 is tied to the trigger guard 39 of gun 26 as shown in FIG. 2. As the gun is pulled, the retaining plate 64 will be pulled since it is connected to the gun and the elastic will be released with the ball 20 to score a hit upon the opposer.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a similar construction wherein spring jaws 70 and 71 extend horizontally instead of vertically as in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and are secured to a spring clip 72 adapted to be extended over the lower jaw as by a rivet 73. In the respective lower and upper jaws 7t) and 71 are respective elongated slots 74 and 75. These slots are vertically aligned with one another and receive a pull retaining member 76 having a laterally-extending stop formation 77 at its lower end.

When the enlarged end 21 of the elastic 20 is disposed between the jaws 70 and '71 and they are drawn together and held in tightly clamped relationship upon the elastic by a laterally-extending stop projection 77 engaging with the underside of the jaw 74) and a catch projection 78 on the pull member 76 extending over the jaw 71 as shown in FIG. 10 at the inner end of the slot 75, the upper end of the pull member 76 is twisted and bent rearwardly to provide an arm to which a string 79 will be attached. This string 79 will be attached to the trigger guard of a gun. As the gun is pulled the pull member 76 will thereby be pulled forwardly to a dotted line position shown in FIG. 10 and will release the catch portion 78 from the runner end of the slot 75 to allow the jaws 7t) and 71 to spread and to thereby release the enlarged end 21 of the elastic 20.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, there is shown a form of the invention by which the elastic is attached to the outer end of the gun barrel so that as the gun is pulled the elastic is released directly from the gun. A holster 80 has an open end 81 through which a gun 82 having a barrel 83 is extended. A plastic plug 84 is fitted into the open end of the barrel 83 up to its stop flange 85. This plug has a loop portion 86 extending outwardly from the center thereof to which an elastic 87 is directly tied. A ball 88 is secured to the elastic 87 intermediate its length thereof and the opposite end of the elastic is similarly connected by a plug to the opposers gun. In order to keep the gun from being pulled out of the holster by the elastic 87 as it is stretched by the players when they back off from one another, an enlargement or knot 89 is made in the elastic near to the plug, FIG. 11, that can catch and help hold the elastic from passing over the edge of the opening 81 as the elastic is put under tension. As the guns are pulled the enlargement 89 is permitted to ride upwardly over the open edge of the holster and the plug removed by the pull of the elastic as the barrel of the gun is brought to a near horizontal or dotted line position shown in FIG. 12 and allow the ball 88 and possibly the plug 84 to make the hit upon the loser.

In FIG. 14, a more simplified form of the invention is made wherein instead of using the plug for making the attachment of the elastic to the gun barrel the elastic is provided with a loop 99 that is extended over a front sight 91 provided with a notch 92 on its front end and projecting from a barrel 93. The elastic of which the loop 96 is made a part will preferably have an enlargement 89 and will be readily released from the gun the moment the barrel end clears the upper edge of the holster. The ball will score the hit upon the last player to draw.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a gun apparatus or toy in which there can be a realistic testing of ones skill in the art of gun drawing without inflicting injury upon the opponent, yet while scoring a direct hit upon him, an apparatus which may be provided in the form of a toy but with which children can safely play.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun drawing apparatus comprising holsters adapted to be carried by two contestants, guns disposed in said holsters, an elastic adapted to be stretched between the contestants and means for releasably securing the respective ends of the elastic to the contestants and operable by the gun as it is pulled free of the holster whereby the first to draw a gun may score a hit with the elastic upon the other contestant.

2. A gun drawing apparatus comprising gun holsters adapted to be respectively worn by two contestants, guns respectively disposed in said holsters, an elastic adapted to be stretched between the contestants, releasable devices releasably carried by the respective holsters for securing the respective ends of the elastic thereto and adapted to be operated by the gun as it is drawn from the holsters, whereby the first to draw a gun may score a hit upon the other contestant.

3. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 2,

and each of said releasable devices comprising a U-shaped spring clip fastened by its closed end to the holster, said spring clip having opposing jaws, said elastic having an enlargement adapted to be disposed between said jaws, a retaining pull plate securing the jaws clamped against the elastic, means securing the jaws clamped against the elastic, means securing said retaining pull plate to said gun whereby upon the gun being drawn the opposing jaws of the spring clip can be released to release the enlarged ends of the elastic.

4. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 3, and said retaining plate having depending ears adapted to astraddle the upper edges and sides of the spring jaws and a fulcrum portion extending along the upper edges of the jaws and having a forward edge by which the plate can be fulcrumed out of engagement with the edges and sides of the jaws as the retaining plate is pulled by the gun forwardly therefrom.

5. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 2, and said releasable device comprising an anchor member secured to the front of the holster and having a flip lifting member hinged to the upper part of the anchor member, said elastic having loop means thereon adapted to overlie the hinge end of the anchor member and the flip member, said flip member overlying the path of vertical movement of the barrel end of the gun and adapted to be flipped thereby as the gun is pulled to release the elastic end.

6. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 5, and said anchor member having inwardly-extending spaced parallel guide portions by which the gun sight and barrel is directed toward said flip member, said flip member being adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the guide portion.

7. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 2, and said releasable device comprising horizontally-extending spring jaws adapted to receive enlarged ends of the elastic, said jaws having elongated openings verticallyaligned with one another, a catch member extending upwardly through the elongated openings, stop means on the lower end of the catch member and a catch formation on said member engageable with the edge of the slot of the upper jaw to hold the spring jaws clamped to the elastic, means for securing the catch member to the gun to be operated by the same as the gun is pulled from the holster.

.8. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 7, and said release device having a clip for releasably securing the device to the holster.

9. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 1, and said means for releasably securing the respective ends of the elastic to the contestants respectively releasably connecting the elastic ends to the respective barrels of the guns.

10. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 9, and said means for securing the elastic ends to the gun including a plug adapted to releasably fit into the outer barrel end of the gun and hold the elastic thereon while the gun lies in the holster and with the elastic extending downwardly thereinto from the upper open edge of the holster.

11. A gun drawing apparatus as defined in claim 9, and said means for releasably securing the elastic ends to the gun including a notched forward sight on the gun and the elastic ends having a loop extending over the notched forward sight.

12. A gun drawing apparatus as defined. in claim 9, and said elastic extending downwardly over the edge of the holster and being knotted tending to keep the elastic from stretching outwardly over the edge of the holster and the gun from being pulled out of the holster by the elastic as it is stretched by the contestants.

13. A gun drawing contest apparatus comprising holsters adapted to be carried by two contestants, guns disposed in the holsters, an elastic member adapted to be stretched by the two contestants, a release device carried by each contestant and operable by the gun as it is pulled free of the holster, said elastic member having its respective ends respectively attached to the release devices, and an indicating element carried by the elastic member intermediate the length thereof for indicating a hit upon a contestant who is the last to draw.

No references cited. 

